filter by Author

“Thanks to Catholic Answers, I am finally in RCIA and coming into the Church that Jesus established.”

~ Michael, Jackson, TN

How does the Church define coveting?

Full Question

How does the Church define coveting, and how does it apply in terms of how we make a living and the purchases we make?

Answer

The Ignatius Revised Standard Bible says: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry." The New Jerusalem Bible says: "This is why you must kill everything in you that belongs only to earthly life: fornication, impurity, guilty passion, evil desires, and especially greed, which is the same thing as worshipping a false god" (Col. 3:5). The second translation speaks of coveting as greed. This is how the Church sees coveting. It’s not a matter of enjoying the sight of things that one likes or would like to have. Coveting is an inordinate attachment to things. It is being obsessed with having. To be obsessed with something is to make a god of it. It becomes more important than anything else. St. Paul is saying that this is not acceptable for the follower of Christ. The Church agrees. It is important that we purchase the things that we need. This does not mean that we can’t purchase some extras that are just for fun. But this has to be done with moderation and in the context of being generous to others and of putting God before all else. This is where we counter our culture. We set limits for ourselves because God matters more to us than anything.

Magazine Articles

Blog

20 Answers: Faith And Science
A False Dilemma of Truth
Didn’t the Church persecute Galileo?
Aren’t faith and reason two separate and distinct kinds of truth?
Why do Christians believe in the biblical creation story when science has disproved it?
How can the modern world take religions seriously when they oppose scientific advancements like birth control and stem-cell research?
In this booklet you’ll find smart, solid answers to these questions and many more. 20 Answers: Faith & Science will clear away misconceptions and help you understand—and explain to your friends and family—the complex but ultimately harmonious relationship between religious and scientific truth.
The 20 Answers series from Catholic Answers offers hard facts, powerful arguments, and clear explanations of the most important topics facing the Church and the world—all in a compact, easy-to-read package.